2023-2024 Leadership Dates
Welcome Reception
Thursday, October 5, 2023 (5:00PM-6:30PM)
Odessa Chamber of Commerce
Retreat: Prude Ranch in Ft. Davis, TX
Saturday October 7 & Sunday October 8, 2023
Session 1: Government & Public Safety
Thursday, October 19, 2023 (8:00 – 5:00)
Session 2: History & Culture
Thursday, November 16, 2023 (8:00 – 5:00)
Session 3: Business & Industry
Thursday, December 14, 2023 (8:00 – 5:00)
Session 4: Medical Services
Thursday, January 18, 2024 (8:00 – 5:00)
Session 5: Media & Education
Thursday, February 15, 2024 (8:00 – 5:00)
Session 6: John Maxwell
March 2024 Date TBD (8:00-5:00)
Session 7: Social Services
Thursday, April 18, 2024 (8:00 – 5:00)
Session 8: Roundup & Graduation
Thursday, May 16, 2023 (8:00AM-12:00PM)
Odessa Chamber of Commerce
Thursday, May 16, 2023 (6:30PM)
Odessa Country Club
*Times may vary according to agendas*
Leadership Odessa always starts the day and ends the day at the Odessa Chamber of Commerce, 700 N. Grant, Suite 200 in the Bank of America Building.
Leadership Odessa is formed on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, contact Carla Hartwig at 432-333-7854 or email her at carlah@odessachamber.com.
Leadership Odessa is a program of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce that attracts a diverse group of businessmen and women. Each class is comprised of 40+ participants from a variety of sectors, including education, medical, small business, banking, industry, hospitality, and nonprofit.
The Leadership Odessa program is open to anyone who currently lives or works in Odessa, and whose organization is a Chamber Member. If you are new to Odessa, it’s the quickest way to get plugged into the community. If you’re familiar with Odessa, take this program to find out all the things you’ve been missing!
Who runs Leadership Odessa?
Although overseen by the Odessa Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Odessa is essentially a participant-run program. The previous year’s graduates put their new leadership skills to work immediately, organizing into committees and facilitating the incoming class’s activities. This passing of the leadership torch has been working beautifully since the program’s founding in 1978.
What kind of commitment would I be making?
In order to graduate, participants must attend seven of the nine day-long sessions.
As explained above, each graduating class is responsible for facilitating the incoming class’s year of activities. Additionally, several Leadership Odessa graduates are peer-nominated to oversee the coming year’s one-month Junior Leadership program for high school juniors.
Many lifelong friendships (and even a few marriages) have resulted from Leadership Odessa.
2022-2023 Leadership Odessa Class
Co-Chairs
Ruben Florez
Laura James
Shannon Adams – Permian Basin Rehab Center
Chris Bartlett – Ector County ISD
Mason Beddingfield – SouthWest Bank
Anthony Bolton – SRP Environmental
Laurie Bruner – Ector County ISD
Marshall Burson - Westech Seal, Inc.
Lisa Butler-Giamporcaro – Eofficial Enterprises
Diana Carrera - First Basin Credit Union
Denice Carrillo – HQ Chiropractic
Carol Cates – Odessa Regional Medical Center
Maryann Cadillo - City of Odessa
Brad Cline - Odessa Police Department
Tonya Coke – Medical Center Health System
Chester Cooper – Odessa College
Miranda Crow – Atkins Law Firm
Larry Daniel – UT Permian Basin
Cody Davis – Ector County ISD
Shane Dixon – Prime Lending
Blake Fosse – Odessa Marriott Hotel
Sydney Garcia – Ector County ISD
Diana Glenn - SouthWest Bank
Sally Gore – Sparklight
Allison Gray – Odessa Chamber of Commerce
Brenda Gutierrez - Prime Lending
Tony Hurt – Hurt Insurance Services
Albert Hutchins – Odessa Regional Medical Center
Katelyn Jeter – Whitley Penn
Andra Jones – Boys & Girls Club of the Permian Basin
Dallas Kennedy – Ector County ISD
Kimberely Luna – UT Permian Basin
Tom Manskey – Odessa Chamber of Commerce
Ed Mendez - Oncor Electric Delivery
Trace Notley – SouthWest Bank
Nicole Pool – Sims & Guess Realtors
Neidia Rankin – Home Hospice
Josh Reyes – Young Professionals of Odessa
Alex Reynolds – Atkins Law Firm
Austin Reynolds – Permian Workforce Development Board
Cynthia Rubalcado - Ector County ISD
Jacqueline Saucedo – SouthWest Bank
Samantha Sotelo – Ector County ISD
Kyria Wade – Frost Bank
Jana Ward – SouthWest Bank
Amanda Webber – Ector County ISD
Bobby White – Odessa Fire & Rescue
Lindy Wright - Ector County Tax Office
Kathy Yorkman – Frost Bank
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS
A HUGE thank you to our 2021-2022 Platinum Sponsors! This select group of pro-Odessa businesses sponsor every program and event all year long, gaining high awareness through signage and verbal name recognition from the podium. They also save by being a Platinum Sponsor instead of buying a table and tickets to each individual event. We couldn’t do it without their generous support!
Interested in becoming a Platinum Sponsor? Learn more here!
